Wig holder with adjustable clamp

ABSTRACT

A wig holder for mounting on a table and in a wig box. The holder simulates a head and neck and has a plastic housing assembly secured to it which slidingly receives a rack assembly and a plunger assembly. The housing assembly has a vertically extending tube integrally joined to a horizontally extending tube. A top plate is secured to the bottom of the vertical tube. A rack is mounted on top of a bottom plate, and is positioned in the vertically extending tube. A plunger is slidable in the horizontal tube, engaging and locking the rack in position. A handled rod is mounted to the plunger. A hole is provided through the top and bottom plates for mounting the holder in a wig box.

United States Patent Russ [451 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] WIG HOLDER WITH ADJUSTABLE 21 Appl. No.: 83,122

[52] U.S. Cl ...223/66 [51] int. Cl. ..D06c 15/00, D06f 59/00, A4lh 5/00 [581 Field of Search ..248/226, 34, 165, 174; 223/66,

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,288,415 11/1966 Eickhoff ..223/66 X 3,498,510 3/1970 Johnson ..223/66 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [5 7] ABSTRACT A wig holder for mounting on a table and in a wig box. The holder simulates a head and neck and has a plastic housing assembly secured to it which slidingly receives a rack assembly and a plunger assembly. The housing assembly has a vertically extending tube integrally joined to a horizontally extending tube. A top plate is secured to the bottom of the vertical tube. A rack is mounted on top of a bottom plate, and is positioned in the vertically extending tube. A plunger is slidable in the horizontal tube, engaging and locking the rack in position. A handled rod is mounted to the plunger. A hole is provided through the top and bottom plates for mounting the holder in a wig box.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented April 4, 1972 3,653,563

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR John E. Russ y Wanda/ 4, MM,

M if

41. arneys Patented April 4, 1972 3,653,563

2 Sheets-Shoot 2 41 I ZNVENTOR By John E. Russddmfiand, MW,

Fig. 5 florneys WIG HOLDER WITH ADJUSTABLE CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is a wig holder.

2. Description of the Prior Art Several wig holders have been devised to allow the user to comb the wig positioned on top of the holder. Some of these holders are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.

3,288,415 issued to Eickhoff;

3,424,419 issued to Siege]; and

3,501,847 issued to Sanford. Generally, the prior art holders employ various metal components such as bolts and clamps, which adds to the cost of the wig holder. In many cases, the user will mount the wig to the holder and then package the holder and wig into a wig box for transporting the wig. These wig boxes typically have an element protruding from the bottom wall of the box which is positioned into the wig holder, thereby securing the wig holder to the bottom wall of the box. Thus, it is necessary to possess two wig holders. The first wig holder is used to transport the wig in a wig box, whereas the second wig holder is used to mount the wig on top of a table for combing. Some ofthe prior art wig holders, for example, the Eickhoff device disclosed in U.S. Pat. NO. 3,288,4l5, have the clamping device separable from the main body of the holder. It is, therefore, possible to lose the components which are separable from the main body.

From the above background, it can be seen that there is a need for a wig holder of non-metallic construction which is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The wig holder should be mountable on a table as well as in a wig box, without requiring components to be separated and taken from the body of the wig holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is a wig holder mountable on a table and in a wig box. The holder is shaped like a head and neck, and encloses a housing assembly which slidingly receives a rack assembly and plunger assembly. The housing is mounted atop a first plate and has a vertically extending tube communicating with a horizontally extending tube. A rack mounted on a second plate is slidable within the vertical tube, whereas a plunger is slidable within the horizontal tube. A rail on the plunger slidingly engages a channel provided in the side wall of the horizontal tube. The plunger is engageable with the ratchet teeth of the rack and has a handled rod extending outwardly. A hole is provided through the first and second plates for receiving a wig box mounting arm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nonmetallic wig holder which is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wig holder which is mountable to a table top and to a wig box without requiring separation and removal of components from the main body of the wig holder.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig holder incorporating the present invention with a portion thereof broken away to more clearly illustrate the clamping device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rack assembly removed from the wig holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, particularly showing the top of the plunger engaging the ratchet teeth of the rack.

FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3, except that the plunger is positioned to engage with a lower surface of the ratchet teeth of the rack.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the housing assembly.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the housing assembly of FIG. 5, with the plunger assembly and rack assembly positioned within the housing assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a wig holder 10 having a top portion 11 simulating a head, and a cylindrical portion 12 simulating a neck. Portion 11 is generally round for receiving a wig, which is not shown. Holder 10 is shown mounted to the top of a table 13 or other similar article of furniture. Holder 10 is broken away in area 14 to more clearly illustrate the clamping device utilized to securely mount the holder to a table. The clamping device has three main assemblies, which are: rack assembly 20, plunger assembly 30, and housing assembly 40. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rack assembly 20. A disc-shaped bottom plate 21 is integrally attached to the bottom 26 of rack 22, which is slidable in housing assembly 40. Ratchet-shaped teeth 23 are formed across the front of the rack, each having a horizontal surface 24 and a sloping surface 25. Both side surfaces 28, as well as the back surface 29, are flat and vertical from the bottom 26 to the top 27 of the rack.

Plunger assembly 30 (FIG. 1) is slidable within housing assembly 40, and has a handle 31 mounted to the end of rod 32, which is mounted to the back of plunger body 33. The plunger assembly 30 is engageable with rack 22, thereby fixing and locking the distance between plates 21 and 41.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, particularly showing the relationship between plunger body 33 and rack 22. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, plunger body 33 has a top horizontal surface 34 and a lower horizontal surface 36, each abuttingly engageable with a portion of horizontal surfaces 24 of rack 22. Surfaces 34 and 36 are joined by sloping surface 38, whereas surface 36 and bottom 51 of plunger body 33 are joined by sloping surface 39. FIGS. 3 and 4 show plunger body 33 engaged with rack 22 in different positions. For example, FIG. 3 shows horizontal surface 24 of rack 22 resting atop of surface 34 of plunger body 33, whereas, FIG. 4 shows horizontal surface 24 of rack 22 resting atop of surface 36 of plunger body 33. Plunger body 33 is sufficiently small with respect to the ratchet teeth of rack 22 so as to not interfere with tooth 65 when engaged with tooth 64. g

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of housing assembly 40, also shown in FIG. 1. Assembly 40 is an integral-formed piece having plate 41 joined to the bottom end of hollow rack tube 42. Plate 41 is disc-shaped and is solid except for hole 55 which extends through the plate, allowing rack 22 to slide freely therethrough to rack tube 42. Tube 42 is cylindrical, having a closed top 56, but being completely hollow from top 56 to plate 41. The inside diameter of tube 42 is greater than the width or depth of rack 22, so that rack 22 will not interfere when the rack is moved vertically through the tube. Arms 44 are integrally attached to tube 42 and are disposed about the circumference and length of the tube in order to anchor the tube within holder 10. Arms 44 may have any configuration, such as circular or rectangular cross-section. Rack tube 42 is integrally joined to plunger tube 43, which houses plunger assembly 30. Tube 43 is hollow and is rectangular in cross-section. FIG. 5 is cut away at areas 45, 53 and 52, illustrating that the tube is hollow 46, with a bottom wall 48 for supporting plunger body 33, as shown in FIG. 1. End 57 of tube 43 is open, whereas end 58 is closed by wall 49. A small hole 47 is provided in wall 49 for rod 32 (FIG. 1) to slide freely therethrough. As shown in cutaway area 53 of FIG. 5, rack tube 42 is also hollow 54, with side wall 50 of plunger tube 43 extending from end 57 to end 58. Wall 50 is cut away at the junction of tubes 42 and 43 thereby communicating hollow 54 of tube 42 with hollow 46 of tube 43 and allowing the plunger body to engage the teeth of rack 22 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 6 is a top view of housing assembly 40 showing plunger tube 43 connected to rack tube 42 with rack 22 positioned in tube 42 and plunger body 33 positioned in tube 43. Best results have been obtained by having tube 43 intercept tube 42 at its center or slightly in front of the center. That is, wall 50 of tube 43 is positioned at or near center 42 of tube 42. Likewise, plunger body 33 has a width slightly less than the inside width of tube 43 with rack 22 extending sufficiently into tube 43 to engage plunger body 33. The outer side wall 59 (FIG. 3) has a channel 60 in its inner surface extending the length of the tube engaging rail 61 of plunger body 33. Rail 61 extends from surface 39 to the back of body 33 (FIG. 1).

Rack assembly is made from plastic and is formed in an integral piece. Likewise, housing assembly 40 is made from plastic and is formed in an integral piece. The head portion 11 and neck portion 12 are integral and are made by molding a foam or plastic material. Prior to pouring the foam or plastic into a mold for forming the head and neck portion, plunger body 33 is positioned in plunger tube 43 with rod 32 protruding through hold 47. Handle 31 is then attached to rod 42 by fastening means such as screws or adhesives. Housing assembly 40 is then positioned in the mold so that rack tube 42 extends into head portion 11 of the mold with plunger tube 43 being positioned in the neck portion 12 of the mold. The head and neck portions are then formed with the outside diameter of neck portion 12 being flush with the outside diameter of plate 41 and ends 57 and 58 of plunger tube 43. Anchor arms 44 secure housing assembly 40 to the formed head and neck portions. Rack assembly 20 may then be installed with rack 22 extending through plate 41 and up through rack tube 42 with plunger tube 43 extending across neck portion 12.

To operate the present invention, handle 31 should be pulled to the extreme left position so that plunger body 33 will not interfere with the teeth of rack 22. Naturally, plunger tube 43 is sufficiently long so as to allow body 33 to be positioned out of the way of rack 22. The table 13 is then positioned between plates 41 and 21 with the top surface of the table supporting plate 41 and the bottom surface of the table abutting plate 21. Handle 31 is then pushed to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 until either horizontal surface 34 or 36 abuts surface 24 of one of the rack teeth. As plunger body 33 is moved horizontally, rail 61 (FIG. 3) rides in channel 60 and a portion of bottom 51 of plunger body 33 rests on top of bottom wall 48 of plunger tube 43. Depending upon the width of table 13, surface 24 of the rack tooth will rest on surface 34 or 36 of plunger body 33 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Sloping surfaces 38 and 39 ease the applicable rack tooth onto horizontal surface 34 or 36 as the plunger body is engaged with the rack. The wig may then be placed on head portion 11 and combed.

In may cases, it is desirable to mount the wig holder and wig into a wig box for transportation. Many wig boxes have a mounting arm protruding up from the bottom wall of the wig box for engagement with the wig holder. Holes 62 and 63 (FIG. 1) are provided respectively in plates 41 and 21 of holder 10 for receiving such a mounting arm of a wig box. After the wig is placed on the holder, plunger 33 may be disengaged with rack 22 and the holder may be moved from table 13. Plate 21 is then pushed upwardly, abutting the bottom of plate 41. Hole 63 is then in line with hole 62 defining one continuous hole. Holder 10 is then mounted in the wig box with the mounting arm extending into holes 63 and 64. These mounting arms are quite well known in the art and therefore this specification will not elaborate thereon. The tip 64 of the hole extends into neck portion 12. The hole may be cone shaped or any configuration as long as the hole is complementary in shape to the mounting arm of the wig box.

Many variations of the wig holder are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, plunger body 33 may be provided with more horizontal surfaces than illustrated and described in this specification for abutting against surface 24 of the rack. It will be obvious from the above description that the present invention provides a wig holder of non-metallic construction which is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. It will be further obvious from the above description that the wig holder is engageable with a table top as well as a wig box without requiring components to be separated and taken from the main body of the holder.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. A wig holder comprising:

a housing assembly having a vertically extending tube and a horizontally extending tube connected together and having a first plate mounted to said vertically extending tube;

a main body having a head portion and a neck portion mounted to said first plate and enclosing said vertically extending tube and said horizontally extending tube;

a rack assembly having a second plate and a rack connected together, said rack being slidable within said vertically extending tube; and,

a plunger assembly having a plunger body slidable within said horizontally extending tube and being engageable with said rack.

2. The wig holder of claim 1 wherein:

said first plate has a first hole extending there'through; and

said second plate has a second hole extending therethrough in line with said first hole when said second plate abuts said first plate.

3. The wig holder of claim 2 additionally comprising:

a handled rod attached to said plunger body; and

anchor arms mounted about the circumference of said vertically extending tube.

4. The wig holder of claim 3 wherein:

said plunger body has a rail and a stepped end; and

said horizontally extending tube has a channel in sliding engagement with said rail.

5. The wig holder of claim 4 wherein:

said rack has ratchet teeth engageable with said stepped end of said plunger body. 

1. A wig holder comprising: a housing assembly having a vertically extending tube and a horizontally extending tube connected together and having a first plate mounted to said vertically extending tube; a main body having a head portion and a neck portion mounted to said first plate and enclosing said vertically extending tube and said horizontally extending tube; a rack assembly having a second plate and a rack connected together, said rack being slidable within said vertically extending tube; and, a plunger assembly having a plunger body slidable within said horizontally extending tube and being engageable with said rack.
 2. The wig holder of claim 1 wherein: said first plate has a first hole extending therethrough; and said second plate has a second hole extending therethrough in line with said first hole when said second plate abuts said first plate.
 3. The wig holder of claim 2 additionally comprising: a handled rod attached to said plunger body; and anchor arms mounted about the circumference of said vertically extending tube.
 4. The wig holder of claim 3 wherein: said plunger body has a rail and a stepped end; and said horizontally extending tube has a channel in sliding engagement with said rail.
 5. The wig holder of claim 4 wherein: said rack hAs ratchet teeth engageable with said stepped end of said plunger body. 